GNAT toxin may have a potential role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistence: an in vitro and in silico study

Aims: Persistent cells are primarily responsible for developing antibiotic resistance and the recurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study investigated the possible role of GNAT toxin in persistence. Materials & methods: P. aeruginosa was exposed to five MIC concentrations of ciprofloxacin. The expression levels of target genes were assessed. The GNAT/HTH system was bioinformatically studied, and an inhibitory peptide was designed to disrupt this system. Results: Ciprofloxacin can induce bacterial persistence. There was a significant increase in the expression of the GNAT toxin during the persistence state. A structural study of the GNAT/HTH system determined that an inhibitory peptide could be designed to block this system effectively. Conclusion: The GNAT/HTH system shows promise as a novel therapeutic target for combating P. aeruginosa infections. Plain language summary:Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Over time, some of these infections have become more difficult to treat. This is because the bacteria can slow their growth and tolerate the antibiotic, known as persistence. It is important to find new ways to treat infections caused by persistent bacteria. This study researched a toxin-antitoxin system, called GNAT/HTH, that may play a role in bacterial persistence. This system could be a target for new antibiotics.